What we have in mind is that the new boom in American natural gas supplies, much of it from the Lone Star State, might be used as a wedge that will convince the Russian president that his incursion was ill-conceived.

U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., offered up that possibility on CBS News "Face the Nation" recently. "We are a nation with vast energy reserves and potential, but with a government that is seen as hostile toward developing those energy reserves, let alone exporting those energy reserves. If our government changed its tune on that, if we told Europe we are going to green-light those languishing permit applications for exporting LNG natural gas to Europe, that could do a lot to send the signals that we are intent on loosening Russia's grip on its energy to Europe. ..."

It's an intriguing proposition, particularly in light of the fact that Russia supplies 60 percent of Ukraine's natural gas. Western Europe gets its oil and natural gas from Russia, as well; the pipelines go through Ukraine. Russia is still the world's largest natural exporter of natural gas, although the U.S. is the largest producer, thanks mainly to fracking.

As with most issues, though, natural gas as a diplomatic tool is a complicated endeavor.

The problem is timing. Even if the U.S. Energy Department immediately approved all 21 applications to build port facilities in the U.S. to export natural gas, the fuel could not begin flowing overseas for several years. The first export terminal, at Sabine Pass, La., is not scheduled to open until 2015.

Keep in mind that these are private companies, not the government, that would be exporting LNG, and they'll go where the money is. That's Asia for the foreseeable future, not necessarily Ukraine and Western Europe.

Until the applications are approved - and the process should be as expeditious as possible - the State Department's Bureau of Energy Resources, created in late 2011, should continue helping Ukraine and other European countries break away from dependence on Russian gas by finding supplies elsewhere.

The State Department initiative is already helping countries develop their own resources, with the help of American companies. Halliburton, for example, is fracking for natural gas in Poland. Ukraine, with 40 trillion cubic feet of natural gas within its borders, could use help, as well; both Chevron and Royal Dutch Shell have shown an interest.